Husband goes crazy looking for neglected wife after she disappears!
"Mrs. Ainsworth, you've lost a lot of blood, and I'm sorry to say you've had a miscarriage. We did everything we could."
The doctor stood by Audrey Beaumont's hospital bed, looking sympathetic.
Just a day before, someone had rushed Audrey to the hospital. The doctors and nurses worked tirelessly for six hours trying to save her baby, but it wasn't enough.
Audrey stared blankly at the ceiling, silent.
In the corner, the TV was blaring entertainment news.
"Rising star in architectural design, Ava Rosewood, came back home last week. She was met at the airport by her mysterious boyfriend. Insiders say Ava visited the hospital recently, possibly pregnant—good news might be on the way!"
Audrey turned her gaze to the screen, where a photo suddenly appeared.
In the picture, a crowd surrounded a glowing Ava, dressed in a flowing white gown, her sweet smile lighting up the scene as she held a bouquet next to Theodore Ainsworth, who wore a sharp black suit, his face expressionless.
The stark contrast of black and white, her softness against his rugged look, made a striking image that was hard to ignore.
A tear rolled down Audrey's cheek.
On the day she lost her baby, her husband had been with another woman for a check-up.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed beside her.
Wiping away the tear, Audrey reached for her phone.
The name "Theodore" flashed on the screen, like a wound that wouldn't heal.
"Where are you?" As soon as she answered, Theodore's cold voice came through, full of impatience.
Audrey looked around the sterile hospital room and at the still-playing TV, remembering how just two days ago, when she'd asked him the same question, he'd brushed her off with, "Audrey, what gives you the right to ask me?" before hanging up. The irony hurt.
"Is there something you need?" Audrey asked, swallowing the bitterness.
"Audrey, don't tell me you forgot what day it is!"
His words made her pause. She looked up at the clock on the wall, noting the date.
The fifteenth—The Ainsworth family dinner night, a monthly tradition.
"Send me the address, and I'll have someone pick you up."
Audrey pressed her lips together, her pale skin making the red on her lips stand out even more.
"I'm not feeling well today. You should go to the dinner without me."
Theodore's voice turned cold. "You're not coming? You used to love these family dinners. Not feeling well? Since when do you ever feel sick? Audrey, if you're going to lie, at least make it believable."
Audrey shot back, "Theodore, is that really what you think of me?"
He laughed mockingly.
"Audrey, don't you think that's a silly question?
"Weren't you the one who threatened my grandfather, doing everything you could to marry me just to become Mrs. Ainsworth and secure your family's wealth? So tell me, who do you think you are?"
Audrey gripped the bed sheets, unable to argue because he was right.
"Audrey, I told you not to test my patience! As long as you're breathing, you will crawl back to Ainsworth Manor for the family dinner!"
Without a word, Audrey hung up the phone, afraid that if she waited even a second longer, she might completely lose it.
As the call ended, her phone slipped from her hand, crashing to the floor.
Her eyes filled with unshed tears as Audrey tilted her head back, trying to hold them in, but her body shook uncontrollably.
The family dinner was planned for the evening. After a restless night's sleep, Audrey finally got discharged in the afternoon.
Ainsworth Manor sat on a hillside, with its garden-style architecture and nearly a century of history.
Standing outside the grand entrance, Audrey waited for Theodore. The Ainsworth family had strict rules: unless there were exceptional circumstances, both spouses had to attend the family dinner together.
A sleek black Maybach pulled up and stopped in front of her. Maxwell Norris got out from the passenger seat and opened the back door. "Mrs. Ainsworth, please, get in."
The back seat was roomy, and Theodore was there, legs crossed and holding a tablet. The glow from the screen flickered on his face, casting shadows on his sharp features. As Audrey watched him, she remembered the tender look he had given Ava in a photo—a look he had never given her.
Audrey felt a sharp pain in her chest but quickly pulled herself together and got into the car.
Chapter 2 Family Dinner
Theodore had just arrived when his grandfather, Dunstan Ainsworth, called him to the study, leaving Audrey alone in the living room.
"Oh look, it's Audrey! Just in time for dinner, huh? Thinks she's something special!"
As soon as Audrey walked in, she heard the snide remark.